USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > First Church chronicles, 1815-1915 : centennial history of the First Presbyterian Church, Rochester, New York > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
123
First Church Chronicles
vening years, the congregations of sixty and seventy years ago certainly set a pace in their contributions for benevolent purposes. The total in 1851 and again in 1852 considerably exceeded $8000 for benevolent purposes alone.
The " church sociables," or suppers, held at this time in private houses with great frequency, were also an important feature in the church life. The viands were at least as famously good in those days, it appears, as they are now. They were paid for by the passing of a hat or plate, into which it was customary for each person to put a quarter. These cottage "sociables " continued with great success until the pastorate of Dr. Robin- son. At his request they were then transferred to the church parlors.
XIX
Some Events of Dr. McIlvaine's Pastorate
In 1849 the church elected three new Elders, Edmund A. Armstrong, Charles Church and Thomas Kempshall. In 1850 it joined with other churches of the Presbytery in a fruit- less appeal to the two General Assemblies to find a basis of harmony and union. In this movement there is reason to believe that
I24
First Church Chronicles
Dr. McIlvaine was very prominent, for he was a most loyal Presbyterian to whom the rupture was a cause of real sorrow. Four years later, when the Rochester Presbytery, by a narrow majority, voted to join the New School branch, the First Church, under his leadership, withdrew from the Rochester Pres- bytery to join the Rochester City Presbytery. The church held two meetings before deciding on its action, and very lively meetings they seem to have been-though the final vote was not close, the ballots being 46 for " Old School " and 8 for New. The men alone voted, as was customary; but in the words of the Session record, " the female members of the church " were permitted to be present, because of their interest.
In 1852, the Mother First gave birth to her fifth child, St. Peter's. One of the most prominent members of the church, Levi A. Ward, commenced early in that year the con- struction of a new Presbyterian church build- ing on Grove Street, opposite his own resi- dence. While it must have been hard for the church to dismiss a family long so prominent in its activities, Mr. Ward had the cordial co-operation of his pastor, and it is even said that Dr. McIlvaine himself suggested the
125
First Church Chronicles
name of the new church. The story, as he used to tell it, was that Mr. Ward, having com- plained that he could think of no name which would be distinctive among Presbyterian churches, Dr. McIlvaine " suggested that he take the bull by the horns, and call it St. Peter's!" The suggestion so pleased the donor that he adopted it. In the Sunday School, as further evidence of the kindly feeling, a collection was taken up late that year for " the purchase of a Bible and hymn book for the church at the grove-St. Peter's." In Octo- ber, 1853, when St. Peter's Church was dedi- cated, Dr. McIlvaine preached the sermon. With Mr. Ward's departure, the Superintend- ency of the Sunday School was transferred to John N. Pomeroy. This whole period was marked by strong religious feeling.
In 1855 the sixth branching path was started from the mother trail, a goodly com- pany of the First Church members leaving the old church to establish Plymouth Congrega- tional. Only a block distant, and using the forms and order of government endeared by New England associations, it drew much strength from the First. Yet the life of that people went placidly on, and the pastor was not discouraged. Three new Elders were
I26
First Church Chronicles
elected: John W. Adams, George Dutton and James S. Tryon, and in 1857 William Burke and J. G. Dabney were chosen deacons-the first ordination to that office in thirty-five years. Frederick Starr, an Elder for twenty- seven years, resigned in 1855, and Ashley Sampson, long prominent in the church, died in 1857. Other important losses to the Church by death at this period were those of Everard Peck, in 1854, and of Charles M. Lee in 1856.
There were several church events of interest during 1855-60. On July 14, 1855, the Session voted that beginning the following day the hour of Sunday afternoon service should " be changed to 32 P.M., in compliance with request from St. Luke's Ch." The change was temporary, the church going back to its old hour in September; but it certainly was an evidence of Christian concord. On September 19th, it was voted, "That Session present to the Sabbath School the New Eng- land Primer, as from them." And on Oct. 7th, there was held in the Mother Church a union Communion service of all the Presby- terian Churches of the town. Represen- tatives from each of the several Sessions served the bread and wine, the other members of the united Sessions occupying the big
I27
First Church Chronicles
square pews at either side of the pulpit. All the pastors addressed the people, and Dr. McIlvaine made a moving concluding prayer. The occasion is recorded as one of " solemn interest." In the following year, the Pres- byterian churches held a series of union prayer meetings.
Mr. Finney returned to Rochester at this time to hold revivals in some of the churches, and very early in 1856 the question came up of inviting him to speak also in the First. The Session debated the matter at several meetings, and finally, under the leadership of its conservative pastor, decided to present no invitation. This was a step requiring courage, considering the revivalist's earlier success in the First, and a long statement on the subject was read from the pulpit. It placed the church squarely on record as questioning the relative permanency of the results of a revival.
On the recommendation of a young men's committee, which was appointed to investi- gate the matter, the Session authorized re- quests for subscriptions to the amount of $1000, for the redecoration of the Lecture Room and to purchase new seats and carpet for it. Special collections were taken up,
I28
First Church Chronicles
also, during these years, for a church library. In this year John W. Adams was elected Superintendent of the Sunday School, to succeed Mr. Pomeroy, and on Dec. 29, 1856, a meeting of the church was held "with a view to the furtherance of Christian cor- diality and acquaintance among the members." The record says that " free and animated con- versation " characterized the gathering, " which was at length (!) suspended by adjourn- ment to Monday evening, Jan. 5th."
But lest this seem too gay a function for the staid members of the old First Church, let it be hastily added that less than a month later the Session appointed a committee " to visit . and his wife, to admonish them for hav- ing given a dancing party in their house." The committee having objected "that the more effectual way to deal with the evil of gay and worldly amusements was that of informal and private admonition," the Session later asked the pastor to attend to it. This he did, reporting that after conversation with the frivolous brother and sister, he had " found many palliating circumstances, and obtained a promise from them that no such thing should occur in future." He added that he had secured " a similar promise from other church
129
First Church Chronicles
members," and recommended " that the Elders of the church should unite in visiting all persons in the church, who had been led into this and other worldly amusements, for private admonition. All united, and each agreed to see some person for this purpose."
Visiting the congregation was no novel experience for the Elders of those days. The city was divided by them into districts, and each district was apportioned to two or more Elders, who made it a point to visit and pray with each family of the congregation living within it. This occurred at designated times, notice hav- ing been given from the pulpit that " visita- tions " were imminent. The Elders assigned to a district made their rounds together.
During this period, also, numerous citations were issued, requiring members to appear before Session for absence from church; and yet the conscientious pastor and Elders pre- pared a long paper which the pastor read to the " Dear Brethren and Sisters " at Preparatory Lecture, June 5, 1857, " confessing " lack of faithfulness in keeping the church members within the straight and narrow path, and promising increasing vigilance in the future- a pledge which they kept! A number of fast days are noted, also, in the records of this time.
130
First Church Chronicles
Another interesting action of 1857 was the employment of "a lay helper," whose task it should be " to attend to the renting of pews and seats, to the collection of rents and other such business." John W. Adams was ap- pointed to the office and was voted a salary of $800, to be taken out of such part of the church collections as was not otherwise appro- priated. The following year there is note that the pastor presented a check for $355.77 from the treasurer of the Ladies' Benevolent Society of the church, " as a donation to the Session, desiring that it might be applied toward the payment of our church agent and missionary, John W. Adams." This is the first mention of the Ladies' Society, and it is one that to this day would be characteristic. The amount which the Society gave was sub- sequently increased.
Reference has been made to the church col- lections for the Orphan Asylum. In Novem- ber, 1857, the Session appointed a committee to confer with the managers and tell them that if the children did not return to attend- ance at the church the institution would certainly suffer in the collections. Another illuminating resolution, adopted a few months later, reads:
I3I
First Church Chronicles
Whereas, there is some disagreement in the church choir, which bears unfavorably on our church music;
Resolved, That it be the sense of the Session that each member of the choir should conform to the expressed wishes of a majority as to what seat he or other mem- bers of the choir shall occupy.
A joint meeting of the Session and Trustees, called in August, 1858, passed a resolution expressing deep sympathy with the members of the Third Presbyterian, in the loss of their sanctuary by fire, inviting them to join with the First " as long as their destitution contin- ues." In the following year the First Church had to do some building of its own. The city
decided to widen Irving Place, and that meant that the little brick chapel-or "Lecture Room,"-which directly abutted on the street, must come down. The city paid $1000 for the strip, and a new stone Lecture, or Ses- sion and Sunday School, Room was then built west of the church, on the Fitzhugh Street side. It was dedicated in 1863, Dr. Pease, the pastor in that year, officiating.
XX
An Important Year
Four important events marked 1860. The opening of this new Lecture Room, the death of Dr. Penney-of which there has been
I32
First Church Chronicles
already mention-the meeting of the Old School General Assembly in the First Church, and the resignation of Dr. McIlvaine.
The Assembly convened in the First Church on May 17th, Rev. Dr. Scott of California preaching the sermon. As it was a time when moral feelings ran high on the questions underlying the civil war, there was never perhaps an Assembly looked forward to with livelier interest or greater anticipation of forensic struggle. The very seriousness of the crisis resulted in the election of exception- ally able and conservative delegates, and on the thirtieth the Assembly dissolved after a session of undisturbed harmony.
Dr. McIlvaine resigned to become Professor of Belles Lettres at his alma mater, Princeton. His farewell sermon was preached on August 26th, and it is easy to believe that the church was very reluctant to let him go. Like the preceding pastors of the First Church he had been a leader in the community. The fact that he was one of the originators of the Pundit Club, though at the time this must have seemed a relatively unimportant incident of his career, will well indicate to the present generation the place he had taken in the com- munity.
I33
First Church Chronicles
After leaving Rochester, Dr. McIlvaine often returned on visits to the city of his many friends, and his farewell sermon as a pastor was by no means the last which he preached from the First Church pulpit. He remained at Princeton for ten years, was then pastor for seventeen years of the High Street Church in Newark, N. J., and then returned to Princeton as President of the Evelyn Female College-the third of the First Church pas- tors to become a college president. He died January 4, 1897.
XXI
Dr. Pease and His Death
During the months before a new pastor came to the First Church the pulpit was often sup- plied by Rev. E. G. Robinson of the Rochester Theological Seminary, and by the Rev. James Nichols. One call was extended and declined. Then the church, perhaps observing that it had been a trainer of college presidents, pro- ceeded to elect one to its pastorate by pre- senting a call to Rev. Calvin Pease, D.D., who was President of Vermont University at Burlington.
Dr. Pease was born in Canaan, Conn., Aug. 12, 1813. His parents moving to Vermont
I34
First Church Chronicles
when he was thirteen, he attended the State university and soon after graduation became Professor of Greek and Latin there. After thirteen years as professor, he accepted the Presidency. He had been President of the University for five years when called to the First Church. It has been written of him that he " was remarkable for the just balance and harmonious development of his faculties and the symmetry of his character. He com- bined social and domestic accomplishments, but it was as a minister of the Gospel he preferred to be judged and estimated. There was a blending of modesty and authority in his presence at the Sacred desk; his voice, usually low like distant music, was occasion- ally loud, like a rising storm, against Sin which his Soul hated."
The labors of Dr. Pease in the First Church were begun on January 12, 1862, but he was not installed until the afternoon of May 13th. The program of the installation in- cluded an introductory prayer and Scripture reading by Mr. Nichols, who was then Modera- tor of Presbytery; a sermon by Dr. McIlvaine, who had come back to Rochester for the occa- sion; a charge to the pastor by Dr. McLaren, who had been pastor before Dr. McIlvaine;
I35
First Church Chronicles
and a charge to the people by the Rev. J. T. Coit, of St. Peter's.
In April of 1862, the Emancipation Pro- clamation of President Lincoln was read from the pulpit, and made the theme of a sermon. In that year O. M. Benedict was elected Super- intendent of the Sunday School, to succeed John W. Adams; and in January of the follow- ing year two new Elders were elected, Oliver M. Benedict and Seth H. Terry.
In the summer of 1863, weary and worn in the Master's service, Dr. Pease went for a rest to his family home in Vermont. Strength did not return to him, as his friends had hoped it would, and on September 17th he died.
High tribute was paid to his memory by the clergy of the city. Dr. Shaw presided at a meeting in the Athenaeum Building to voice the clergy's and the city's loss. Here reso- lutions were adopted expressive of deep grief and high appreciation. In Vermont it was said that that State had " lost her ablest man."
The funeral was held in Burlington, where Dr. Pease had died, and three Elders from the Rochester church, Messrs. Benedict, Adams and Buell, together with Judge Gardiner, were among the pall bearers. .
In Rochester on the Sunday evening follow-
136
First Church Chronicles
ing, Rev. G. L. Boardman of the Second Baptist Church pronounced an eulogy upon him, re- ferring in the course of his remarks to a char- acteristic that has been always marked in the religious life of the city. He said, "I gladly seize the occasion to say publicly, that the ministers of Rochester glory in unity. Ours is a goodly fellowship. God grant that it may ever continue, as it ever hath been, an unbroken brotherhood in peace and love."
In commemoration services, held at First Church on September 27th, Rev. Dr. Shaw took as his text, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; " and Professor Cut- ting, also speaking, said: "You know with what total unreserve he gave himself to your service; with what solicitude he watched every interest of your parish; how he cher- ished the Sunday School and the cause of missions; how he looked after the sick, the suffering, and the afflicted; how he composed differences, and promoted unity and peace; how he was the joy of your homes, and the light of your public assemblies; how gentle and loving he was."
In a privately printed memorial of Dr. Pease it is said of his brief pastorate in Roch- ester that it " comprehended the happiest and
I37
First Church Chronicles
most interesting period of his life. Within these few short months he did his greatest and best work, for which all his previous life, labor and experience were but the prepara- tion, and it their fitting crown and reward." And Dr. W. G. T. Shedd, of Union Theo- logical Seminary, delivering a memorial address at the University of Vermont (Commence- ment Day, Aug. 2, 1864), said of the relation between Dr. Pease and the First Church: " It is rare in the history of clergymen and congre- gations that such a tender and affectionate feeling springs up between pastor and people as that which existed in this instance. . . The tie seemed to have all the strength of a long-continued pastorate."
XXII
Dr. Beadle
From the death of Dr. Pease, in September, 1863, until the following May, the First Church pulpit was again filled acceptably by Dr. Robinson, of the Theological Semi- nary. At a meeting of the church on October 3d, a call was extended to Rev. Dr. Elias R. Beadle, of New Hartford, Conn., to become pastor. Dr. Beadle accepted the call, was received by Presbytery, and entering upon
138
First Church Chronicles
his duties as pastor-elect, served the church from November 6, 1864, to July 19, 1865.
In March, '65, he was obliged to go South by reason of ill health and in April of the same year he presented his resignation, having been advised by his physicians that he would be unable to endure the winters of the North. The church, having no alternative, sadly accepted the resignation. That the disap- pointment was genuine is indicated in many ways. At the time of Dr. Beadle's arrival the records note, "The church and congre- gation are very much pleased with our new pastor, as regards his discourses in the pulpit and as regards himself socially. We hope to co-operate with him in every good work." Dr. Beadle's earnestness of purpose is evidenced by the announcement in his first sermon that he had come to preach Christ; that he should aim at no flights of rhetoric, but would labor solely for the salvation of souls. There are frequent references also to later visits which he made to the church, where he was always cordially welcomed. In 1866 he came to spend his summer vacation in Roches- ter. It is said of him at that time, " His face is gladly welcomed wherever he goes."
It was during Dr. Beadle's brief presence
139
First Church Chronicles
that the second Sunday service was changed from afternoon to evening; and the few months of his incumbency covered a period in which history was made. March 19, 1865, is noted as " the Sunday of the flood. The church being inaccessible, surrounded on all sides by water, no services were held either in church or chapel." Sunday, April 16th, has the record: " A feeling of general gloom pervades the city on account of the demise of President Lincoln." Within the church circle itself a notable death of that year was that of Moses Chapin, for forty years an Elder.
XXIII
Mr. Wines
After the resignation of Dr. Beadle, the pulpit was supplied for several months by, for the most part, members of the faculties of Auburn Theological Seminary and of the University of Rochester. It was the period of the war and some great sermons were preached. It is remembered that on one occasion, when Dr. Robinson was preaching on patriotism, the congregation of the con- servative old church rose in their places and cheered him!
On Dec. 18, 1865, the church gave a call
140
First Church Chronicles
to Rev. Casper Maurice Wines, a brilliant young minister, born in Philadelphia, who, though but lately graduated from Princeton Seminary, had had pastoral service in Jersey City and Newburgh. He was installed on the March 22d following. The sermon was preached by his father, Rev. E. C. Wines, D.D., of New York, whose name is widely known in connection with prison reform. Dr. Wines, taking as his text the words (John XIII, 20), " Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send re- ceiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth Him that sent me," may well have delivered, as it is said he did, an impressive discourse.
Very early in the ministry of Mr. Wines- in fact, some days before his formal installa- tion, for the date is May 5, 1866-the Ses- sion " Resolved, that the first Wednesday night of each month be set apart for monthly concert of prayer for missions." So began a custom which, with occasional temporary changes and lapses, has been since observed for almost fifty years. On May 20th there was entered in the Sunday School records a note which reads, in reference apparently to the regular Monday evening meeting, rather than to the foregoing:
I4I
First Church Chronicles
Monthly concert of prayer. Very slim attendance on account of weather. Very poor speeches. Very stu- pid meeting.
But Mr. Wines took hold not only with great earnestness, but with the energy of youth. He preached very regularly and showed a par- ticular interest in the Sunday School. One of the first and most important innovations due to him-though it had first to be long and conscientiously discussed by the Session -was the substitution of " Songs of the Sanc- tuary " for the sad "Psalms and Hymns " that had been sung for so many years in the church.
On October 14, 1866, the trustees offered the use of the church to the congregation of St. Luke's, as had been so cordially done on other occasions. This time repairs were in progress at St. Luke's. The offer was again accepted, and for a considerable period the Episcopal service was read in the First Church on Sunday afternoons, the Presbyterians wor- shipping in the evenings.
These evening meetings were not as well attended as Mr. Wines thought they should be. It is recorded that on July 21, 1867, he was preaching on this subject, reading an exhortation promulgated by General Assem-
I42
First Church Chronicles
bly for a better observance of the Sabbath, when there broke such an uproarious thunder- storm that "the sound of the organ could scarcely be distinguished in the front pews, and the minister's voice was silenced." A few months later, on Monday afternoon, January 25, 1868, another excitement occurred. This was during a Session meeting in the ad- jacent Lecture Room. " A loud report was heard, proceeding from the church. Upon investigation, it was found that a large section of the ceiling and joists supporting it, in the audience chamber of the church, had fallen, crushing many seats and doing great damage." On the preceding evening, Dr. Hall of the Third Church had been preaching in the auditorium, and it became an oft-quoted witticism of the day to say that the Third Church pastor " had brought down the house."
In a physical way, these untoward occur- rences seem to typify various other incidents which, without lessening the personal regard between pastor and people, soon convinced the former that he ought to resign, and per- suaded the latter to accept the resignation. The letter of resignation, which is dated June 24, 1868, only two years after his installation, is in the Session files and is a manly, straight-
I43
First Church Chronicles
forward document, Mr. Wines taking to him- self and ascribing to his youth the blame for any blunders he may have committed. Pres- bytery dissolved the relationship July 14, 1868, and in noting his departure the record relates that Mr. Wines "as a talented and social gentleman has left behind him a host of admiring friends who will ever be glad to see him back." He went from Rochester to a church in Brookline, Mass., and later, turn- ing Episcopalian, had a church in Cleveland.
XXIV
Without Pastor and Church
After Mr. Wines resigned, the pulpit re- mained vacant for upwards of two years. It is no slight evidence of the loyalty and faith- fulness of the congregation that, with con- siderable periods of pulpit vacancy-three different pastors staying only a few months each in the ten years from 1860 to 1870-and with several other discouragements, they held together so well. This doubtless was due in part to the excellence of the pulpit supplies.
From July 14, 1868, until December, 1870, these included Rev. Charles Parker and the Rev. Jonathan B. Condit, D.D., of Auburn Theological Seminary-chiefly the latter,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.